1 Rosary of Trust By St. Bernard & St. Ambrose

Transcription

1 1 Rosary of Trust By St. Bernard & St. Ambrose First Mystery Mary said to the angel, How can this be since I do not know man O Virgin, you have heard that you will conceive and bear a Son. You have heard that it will not be by man, but by the Holy Spirit. The angel awaits an answer. We to, are waiting, O Lady, why do you delay? Why are you afraid? Believe, give praise and receive. Let humility be bold. Let modesty be confident. Second Mystery Awake, O sleeper. Arise from the dead and Christ will give you light. Arise in faith, hasten in devotion, open in praise and thanksgiving. Behold, the handmaid of the Lord, she says, be it done to me according to your word. Third Mystery Know that Elizabeth, your kinswoman, has conceived a son in her old age. She who was thought to be sterile is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible with God. When the angel revealed his message to the Virgin Mary, he gave her a sign to win her trust. He told her of the motherhood of an old and barren woman to show that God is able to do all that he wills. Fourth Mystery Thereupon, Mary set out, proceeding in haste into the hill country to a town of Judah where she entered Zechariah s house and greeted Elizabeth. When she hears the angel s message, Mary sets out for the hill country. She does not disbelieve God s word. She feels no uncertainty over the message or doubt about the sign. She goes eager in purpose, dutiful in conscience, hastening for joy. Fifth Mystery How beautiful are the feet of those who announce good news. Faith, then comes through hearing, and what is heard is the word of Christ. You are also blessed because you have heard and believed. A soul that believes both conceives and brings forth the Word of God and acknowledges his work. 2 - Our Lady, a Model of Trust By Bishop Guglielmo Giaquinta First Mystery Let us contemplate Mary at the Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38) Mary is a model of trust. She is a model for the trust she had in God: Ecce Behold, Fiat Be it done to me are signs of her abandonment to the Lord and therefore, her trust. Second Mystery Let us contemplate the last words of Elizabeth to Mary (Luke 1:45) Blessed is she who trusted the Lord s word to her would be fulfilled. Our Lady then, appears to us as someone on whom God has been able to depend and in whom He has placed His trust. Let us ask ourselves if God can count on us, can have trust in us. 23

2 Third Mystery Let us contemplate Mary before the Christ Child in the manger (Luke 2:19) Mary treasured all these things and reflected on them in her heart. We can think of the Holy Spirit, of the ceaseless interior motions he had within Mary she who adhered fully to the plan of the Father, could not but follow faithfully the single movements of the Spirit who therefore had trust in her, who could count on her. Fourth Mystery Let us contemplate Mary at the wedding in Cana (John 2: 1ff.) Christ goes before, I would say with a giant step, and the mother follows. Christ can count on the fidelity of Mary. He can have trust in her. Fifth Mystery Let us contemplate Mary at the foot of the Cross of Christ (John 19:25-27) Even though Our Lady had reasons not to trust, Mary accepts with faith, with serenity and with trust. She had trust in the love of God, she was open to acceptance of the mystery, open at every moment from the encounter with the angel to the encounter with the Cross. 3 Mary, Disciple of the Lord Mary is the woman who, in silence, in prayer, in contemplation, chose to be the faithful disciple of the Word of the Father. Let us accompany Mary in our prayer with the same availability and openness to the will of the Father, and through her intercession, let us ask the Father to be the Master of our hearts, conforming our life to the life of Christ. First Mystery Mary, the Daughter who understands and welcomes the Word (Luke 8:15) As for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart and bear fruit through perseverance. We praise you and bless you, O Father, for the marvels you have worked in each one of us. Through the intercession of Mary, the faithful disciple of the Word made Flesh. Help us to become true disciples of Christ, always attentive to his word and faithful to his teachings. Second Mystery Mary, the Virgin of Silence (John 12:24) Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. We praise you and we bless you, O Father for your continued presence in our life. Through the intercession of Mary who meditated in her heart on the Word of salvation, give us the gift of silence within our sensitivity and our memories, to reach an interior silence, that favorite place where your Son can be known and loved. 24

3 Third Mystery Mary, Mother of Grace and Queen of Mercy (John 2:3) When the wine ran short, the Mother of Jesus said to him, They have no wine. We praise you and we bless you, O Father, for your infinite goodness. Through the intercession of Mary, whom you willed to be the Mother of the Redeemer, help us intimately adhere to Christ, the Mediator too cooperate ever more with the mystery of Redemption. Fourth Mystery Mary, Dwelling of the Heavenly Sacraments (Luke 1: 30-31) Then the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. We praise you and we bless you, O Father, because you willed that your Son become incarnate in the womb of Mary. Help us, through her intercession, to be the fertile ground that welcomes the seed of your Word, to shine with the light of your Son to illuminate your people. Fifth Mystery Mary, Mother of Joy (Zechariah 2:14) Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the Lord. We praise you and we bless you, O Father, for having given us Mary, our thoughtful sister and mother. Give us, through her intercession, the joy of recognizing you in every creature and at every moment of our life to sing together with Mary and the saints the joy of a Father who loves us infinitely. 4 Risk Rosary The theme of this rosary is Risk that requires Trust and Trust that requires Risk. Mary is our model of Trust because she knew how to Risk. We turn to her and ask her to whisper that sacred word in our hearts TRUST. Repeat it often, Mary, until we all become saints! First Mystery Many of us think that when the Blessed Virgin gave her Fiat yes, be it done to me, she already had a clear vision of what her life would be like. This is not true. Our Lady lived with a certain amount of understanding of salvation, but she also lived by faith. There are many things she did not know. She did know one thing how to accept with love the risk of faith. Second Mystery Risk in faith is a participation in the unconditional love of Jesus for the Father and all persons. This is the real motive for which we accept it, rather choose and love it. Mary said it and accepted it first: Behold, be it done to me as you say. 25

4 Third Mystery Risk in faith is proof of our love for the Lord. Mary did not know what was going to happen to her, but she said yes anyway. This was her act of love for the Lord for love she faced the risk. Fourth Mystery There was no earthly security in Mary s life to assure her that everything would turn out all right. Mary had to trust a trust that came from deep within her being, in order to respond peacefully and positively to the Lord. Fifth Mystery Mary risked being obedient to the Lord s request. She renounced her own will, judgment, vision and experience in order to immerse herself in the reality of faith and the mystery of trust. 5 Aspects of Mary s Life that Aided her in Becoming Our Model of Trust First Mystery The angel appeared to you Mary, and said, Rejoice, O highly favored daughter. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women. You were deeply troubled by these words and wondered what this greeting might mean. The angel continued, Do not fear, Mary, you have found favor with God. You shall conceive and bear a son and give him the name, Jesus. Great will be his dignity and he will be called, Son of the Most High. Mary questioned, How can this be, since I do not know man? The angel answered, The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Hence, the offspring to be born will be called, Son of God. Elizabeth, your relative, has conceived a son in her old age. She who was thought to be sterile is in her sixth month. Nothing is impossible with God. Your response, upon hearing this, I am the servant of the Lord. Be it done to me according to your will. With this, the angel left. In this mystery, we see a young woman with courage. With this, the grace to trust. We invoke our Blessed Mother to give us the gift of sight of faith. Second Mystery After the angel left, you proceeded in haste to the hill country to a town of Judea into the house of Zechariah where you greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard your voice the child leapt in her womb for joy. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out, Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me. Blessed is she who trusted that the words to her would be fulfilled. In this mystery, we rejoice with Mary in her meeting with Elizabeth. So often our ability to trust in God is unnoticed. Despite any fear that Mary experienced, she was able to rejoice in truth with her dear friend. We also invoke our Blessed Mother to assist us to maintain relationships with one another that inspire trust. 26

5 Third Mystery Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to Jerusalem that he might be presented to the Lord. For it was written that every first-born shall be consecrated to the Lord. There lived in Jerusalem at the time a just and pious man named Simeon. It had been revealed to him that he would not experience death until he had seen the anointed of the Lord. He came to the temple inspired by the Spirit and when the parents brought in the child to perform the customary ritual of the law, he took Jesus in his arms and blessed him with these words. Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace. You have fulfilled your word. Amazed at what was being said, you were blessed by Simeon who told you, This child is destined to be the downfall and rise of many in Israel. In this mystery, we reflect that Mary experiences both joy and pain in this meeting. She had a foreshadowing of the life she would experience with her son. Her response was one of acceptance and trust. We invoke Mary, our mother, to help us accept circumstances we experience with trust as she did. Fourth Mystery Each year Mary and Joseph traveled to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. When Jesus was twelve, they went up for the celebration as was their custom. When they were returning, the child remained behind, unknown to his parents. Thinking he was in the party, they continued the journey for a day, believing that Jesus was among the relatives. Not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem and began searching for him. On the third day, they came upon him in the temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions. All who heard him were amazed at his intelligence and answers. When his parents saw him they were astonished and said to him, Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been searching for you in sorrow. Did you not know I must be in my Father s house? In this mystery, we realize that Mary did not understand what Jesus meant. Jesus returned with them and was obedient. In this mystery, we ask Mary to help us to trust God in circumstances that we don t understand. Mary, give us the grace to respond as you did and hold things in our heart as we come to realize that we don t have to understand all things to have faith. Fifth Mystery In this mystery we reflect on the experience Mary underwent as she looked into the eyes of her son as he struggled through the streets of Jerusalem on his way to be crucified. Jesus was dragging the cross with the assistance of Simon of Cyrene. A great crowd of people watched and Mary heard the women beating their breasts and lamenting over her son. She heard him say to them, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but for yourselves and for your children. In this mystery, we realize that Mary s practice of trust pays off. In her moment of deepest sorrow she continues to feel as anyone would as they watched the death of someone they loved dearly. In this dark moment, her response was one of trust. How those words of Jesus must have echoed within you. Did you recall the words of the Angel Gabriel? Did you think of the words of Simeon? We reflect with joy at our mother s response of love as she accepts this pain. We ask her to assist us with the trust needed to respond to our darkest moments. 27

6 6 Mary and the Eucharist (Reflections of Teresa Monaghen) First Mystery Mary who does the will of God: The Annunciation In this first mystery we hear Mary say, Amen. She says Amen and receives the seed of Christ in her womb. It was pure mystery for her, but deep in her heart, after pausing and pondering, giving time for the Spirit to strengthen her, she says Amen. Because of Mary s Amen, we have Jesus with us today. Do we realize that every time we say, Amen and receive the Body of Christ that we have just done what Mary did? Are we aware that through the power of the Holy Spirit that Christ grows in us and with him, we find the strength to share him with others. May our Amen ring out strong so that others will receive Jesus from us today. Second Mystery Mary who serves others: The Visitation In this second mystery, I am very aware of how humbling it is to have someone bring communion to you when for reasons of sickness or lack of opportunity you do not have the possibility of attending mass. The God of the entire universe comes into my home, to my door and into my heart. This is how Elizabeth must have felt when Mary came to her and brought her first communion. In the Gospel of Luke we hear Elizabeth cry out, And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord come to me? Dear Mary, first minister of the Eucharist, you brought Jesus to Elizabeth and to the entire world. Let me imagine that every time I receive the Lord, it is you who bring him to me. How honored and humbled I am to have the Mother of My Lord come to my home, my door, bringing Jesus to my heart. Thank you, Mary, there is no greater service than to bring Jesus, Eucharist, Holy Communion, bread for the journey, viaticum, to others. We pray not only to receive the Lord in humility, but also for the grace to be a bearer of Jesus bringing him to others. Third Mystery Mary who brings Christ to the world: The Nativity The other day, while sitting on a plane, waiting for my flight to take off, I was taken by a beautiful woman who came in with a most beautiful baby in her arms. Not only was I taken and attracted to this scene, but also it was easily discernible that anyone on board who saw her could not help but turn a head. It was hard not to stare for there was such beauty and tenderness in seeing the two together. Without realizing it, the woman brought joy to everyone who saw her and her baby. In this third mystery, we stare in amazement at the most beloved mother and child Mary and the Child Jesus. Mary brings in our midst the most beautiful child, but in this scene, we do not have to remain at a distance, glancing only and trying not to stare, we can hold this child. Mary brings this child to us and allows us to receive him yes, in communion we receive him, receive him, and if we are attentive, aware, and prepared, our hearts are filled with joy. Jesus comes to us in the arms of Mary and she allows us to hold him and be transformed by him in our hearts. Fourth Mystery Mary and Bethlehem: House of Bread Recently, while in the Holy Land, I had the opportunity to actually go to Bethlehem and enter the Basilica that covers over the site where Jesus was born. It was not at all what I expected. It was very poor and dirty and, due to the divisions among Christians 28

7 in the Holy Land, it was even difficult to find a tabernacle that held the sacred hosts. How sad I was at this state of affairs, but as I reflected it came clear to me that Jesus chose to be born in the hard rock walls of a grotto that was certainly difficult for both Mary and Jesus. He continues to be born in poverty every time the sacred mysteries are celebrated, and he comes to us in a world filled with division and lack of understanding of his true presence. Eucharist is nourishment for our souls. We receive this food from the grotto of Bethlehem, from the rock walls of poverty in which Jesus was born. Mary welcomes us as she welcomed the shepherds and the magi. She welcomes us with hospitality fit for royalty. She brings out the choicest food, and she brings us to Jesus. Let us not forget that in the poverty of a small morsel of bread, is the finest and most expensive food given to any mortal. God so loved the world that He gave us His only Son and we receive him in the arms of Mary. May our souls be ready to receive and may he find a warm and welcoming place. Fifth Mystery Mary and Nazareth: School of the Savior Today home schooling is very popular as is evidenced by the growing numbers of people choosing to keep their children at home and provide the opportunity for education in this manner. In reality, every home is a school of learning even when the children go off to school. It is in the home that we practice the lessons of life. It is in the home that fundamental beliefs are lived out. It is in the home that we learn to live what we have consumed in books or we reject those teachings because in the home we are learning to live in another manner. In the home of Nazareth, Mary and Joseph were the primary teachers. We learn from the life of Jesus what they must have taught with their lives. He embodied the teaching of his home life. In the Eucharist we learn what kind of school of life Jesus was taught in. Jesus teaches us by the way he continues to live among us. He learned to give in a hidden, but powerful way. He allows himself to be consumed for the spiritual nourishment of others. Let us return to the home of Nazareth to Mary and Joseph and let them become our primary teachers. We can learn the lessons they taught by meditating deeply on their lives. They will teach us how to become bread for others. We, too, can become bread for the life of the world if we pay attention to our lessons in the school of the Savior. 7 Mary and her Son, Jesus First Mystery Mary of Nazareth Mary of Nazareth was a young teenager. She was a good child, but that was no great surprise since her mother, Anna, and her father, Joachim, were good, holy people. Yet, on the day that has come to be known as The Annunciation, the Angel Gabriel spoke of Mary s goodness in a holy new dimension: Rejoice, O highly favored daughter! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women. Do not fear, Mary, you have found favor with God. What did all this mean? Even Mary did not know. She did not know that her redemption had been accomplished from the moment of her own conception. She certainly did not know how she could fulfill the angel s next prediction that she would conceive 29

8 and bear a son, yet still remain a virgin. Assured the Holy Spirit would come upon her, Mary asked no more. God had great plans for her. The decision was hers. At that moment, this little teenage girl held the fate of mankind in her hands. Her response swift, sure, simple Let it be done to me according to his word. And so it was dons. The Word became Flesh, God became man, and Mary of Nazareth was his dwelling place. Second Mystery Mary of Bethlehem Jesus was conceived in love. First in the love of God, the Father, for mankind this Father who loved the world so much that He gave us His Only Begotten son; in the love of the Father for his daughter, Mary this Father who had done great things for her; in the love of the daughter for the Father expressed as she unquestioningly accepts His will; in the love of the Holy Spirit who transformed God s will into living Flesh within this maiden; and in her love, in turn, for her spouse this life-giving Spirit and source of her Divine Maternity. Physically the body of Jesus was formed and delivered just like any other baby born throughout the history of mankind. If the birth was painless, this fact makes neither Son nor mother less human. It simply follows that Mary s Immaculate Conception would also free her from the pains of childbirth which were among the consequences of original sin. If the surroundings at Bethlehem were more primitive that Mary and Joseph had hoped to provide for the birth of the redeemer, they were not in a position to alter the situation. God s will for His Son was again being manifested to Mary and again she did not know where it would lead her next. But again, she was ready to accept it as she treasured all these things in her heart. Third Mystery Mary of Cana Cana was a time of joy for Mother and Son as they attended a wedding feast. Then, with the depletion of the wine, several things began to happen. Mary became worried about the reputation of the bride and groom, but she had faith that her Son could do something to help them, and she had trust that He would do it. Mary s concern for the couple foreshadows her role as mediatrix wherein she will place herself between God and man, interceding for mankind s wants and needs. The story s happy ending shows that neither her faith nor her trust in Jesus was misplaced. The time for Jesus to begin his public ministry had not yet come, but by acceding to His mother s request, still another chain of events was set in motion. Now the ministry of the Son had indeed begun and he would leave the familiar surroundings of Nazareth to preach the good news to all people. At the same time, and ironically at her own urging, He would also leave Mary. She was now in the care of His heavenly father, as the son takes the first step that will inevitably lead to Calvary. Fourth Mystery Mary of Calvary For three years, Jesus had lived the life of an itinerant preacher, introducing his Father to the world his Father who was gentle and compassionate; this Father who loved the world so much that He gave to it His Only Begotten Son. Many in the world, unwilling or unable to understand the teachings of Jesus, were overwhelmed by the de- 30

9 mands of such an all-consuming and were not able to endure the Son who persisted in reminding them of it day after day. And so the Son was condemned to die to die as a criminal hanging on a cross high above the earth. Standing at the foot of the cross were the steadfast few who understood all too well about the demands of love. There were Mary His Mother, His Mother s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, Mary Magdalene and the disciple John. As Jesus looks down upon His weeping mother, He presents her new son and, in turn, presents His own mother to John. Jesus intended that the mother who gave Him life would not be without protection and support as she neared the end of her own life. John would see to that. But the new motherhood Jesus bestowed on Mary was not for John alone. This was the introduction of His mother to the world as the mother of all mankind. Jesus, the Son who was dying to redeem the world, would not do so until he had given to the world both His Father and His Mother. Fifth Mystery Mary of Jerusalem After Jesus ascended into heaven, the apostles returned to Jerusalem where they gathered in the Upper Room and devoted themselves to constant prayer. St. Like tells us in the Acts of the Apostles that there were some women in their company, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers. How fitting that Mary be among those who eagerly awaited the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. For she alone already had received the Holy Spirit and had been His spouse since the day of the Annunciation. Mary, the first to believe, the mother who continued to believe during the darkest hours of Good Friday, led the way to Pentecost for those whose faltering faith had newly been revitalized after the Resurrection. On that day when the Church was founded, the apostles were commissioned to go forth and bear witness to the crucified and risen Christ. Mary s mission was unique. As the only one with knowledge of the hidden life of Christ, and indeed, the only who was present at the birth of Christ and at the birth of His Church, Mary was the single witness to the mystery of Jesus. Thus, now, as on the first Pentecost, when the Church contemplates the mystery of the Incarnation, it approaches Jesus through Mary. The Church meditates on her faith that preceded and literally gave substance to its own apostolic mission. The new motherhood that Jesus conferred on Mary from the cross did not end with her presence in the Upper Room at Jerusalem. On the contrary, the motherhood of Mary for the Church, her availability as a model of faith and a channel of grace for Christ s followers will continue as long as there are people to be redeemed. 8 A Rosary for Life First Mystery The Annunciation The scene we call the Annunciation might as easily be called the Conception of the Lord. We placed it nine months before the Lord s birth and we took it as the first moment in which Our Lady became a tabernacle, tenting within her own womb the Most High Lord. From the moment He was conceived, there were no differences between the way Jesus grew in the womb of Mary and the way each of us grows in the womb of our 31

10 mother. His embryonic life followed the normal pattern of human development and growth. He began too small to be seen, developed into a tiny being the size of a grain of sand, and eventually to a full baby at his birth. The moment of the annunciation was the beginning of his human life on earth. Though hidden as if in the deepest, most distant place in the ocean, it was still just as real as if there were a worldwide broadcast of the event for all to see. In Scripture, to give a name indicates a kind of power over the one named. Adam named the animals; Jesus gave the name Peter to Simon. Dear Mary, by giving your divine son the name of Jesus, you had power over him. Today, mothers still have power over their unborn children, with the opportunity to give them life or death. Help them to choose life, to preserve life the precious and beautiful life of the child within the womb! Second Mystery Visitation: All Stages of Life are Sacred In this scene, we are reminded of God s special call to us at every stage of life. First, we have Elizabeth, an old woman, advanced in years, chosen by God for a special purpose. Her age was not a deterrent in God s eyes, rather it was her gift and within her she bore her gift to the world, John the Baptist. Mary is the young adult on the scene. Hardly into her teens, she too, is chosen. Her age is not a problem; she too, is to bring into the world the greatest gift of all the Messiah, the Savior. How blessed is she, at her time in life, to be looked upon with favor by the Lord. Finally we have the smallest of human beings: Jesus and John in the womb, in fetal form, kicking and dancing with life. Already they are more alive than most of us already born. They respond with joy in the presence of each other. They are living their call from within and ready to give their gifts to whomever will receive them. Life at all stages from the moment of conception to old age is sacred and has a particular call to live out and a gift to give to the world. Let us pray that soon life will be protected from the moment of conception and that every person to be given the freedom to respond to the Lord s call and be allowed to bring his or her gift into the world. Third Mystery Magnificat Young, pregnant, and for all intents without security, Mary cried out with joy, not with pain. She praised God for the life that swelled within her. She praised the Mighty One for the great happening inside her! She was alive. Her baby was alive. God was using her for great things and HOLY, HOLY, HOLY was his name! Fourth Mystery Jesus in the Womb of Mary Perhaps only during Advent do we think of Jesus growing in the womb of Mary, our Blessed Mother. There is a chapel where there is a lovely silver statue of Our Lady pregnant with Jesus. He is in her womb and she is showing. It is an unusual image of Our Lady, since we most often see her carrying her newborn child or at the time of the Lord s passion, but here during pregnancy, she actually carries him within her. It is the same way we were all carried in the womb of our mother. After just a few weeks, the beginnings of his sacred heart began to push blood through his little body. Tiny hands and fingers that would later bless, heal, feed and praise his Father, formed while he was within her. The microscopic feet and toes that one day would carry him across the plains, valleys and mountains of Palestine took shape within her. Her blood literally ran through his 32

11 body, and though in his humanity he was not conscious of her, she was ever conscious of him. He who is life itself grew in life, beginning with the first moment of his conception, drawing life from Mary. Dear Mother Mary, we call you and honor you as the mother of life. We ask you to help all pregnant mothers be aware of the gift of the child or children within them. May they protect that life, honor and treasure it as the gift from God that it really is. The miracle was not only that Jesus lived within you, but that new life grows within all mothers! Fifth Mystery Nativity: The Look of Love Dear Mary, as you held your child Jesus in your arms you looked on him in love. You did not regret saying yes to the Lord. You did not wonder if you should have had this child. You did not question if he was healthy, whole or unblemished. You just loved him! To have a look of love for every human person is to see Jesus in every person. Mary, give us your look of love for every person, from conception to old age; a look of love for the beautiful and most blemished for those we care about and understand and those we find hard to look on and cannot understand. It is not easy in some cases, but we imitate your wonder and awe at seeing in every person the face of Jesus. Amen. 33